Taipei, Feb. 27 (CNA) On the eve of the anniversary of the 2-28 Incident in 1947 in which thousands of Taiwanese civilians were killed by government forces in Taiwan, ROC President Chen Shui-bian called for tolerance and a healing of old wounds. "The 2-28 Incident represents a shared experience of pain and suffering for all on Taiwan, regardless of their ethnicity or party affiliation," the president said.
Chen said, "All people in Taiwan must work together to heal the wounds and eliminate the pain."
The president made the remarks while speaking at the opening of an exhibition at the art gallery in the Presidential Office marking the 55th anniversary of the 2-28 Incident.
As Taiwan has now become a democratic country, Chen said, there is no reason for anybody to continue living under the "shadow of hatred."
He said, "We should not forget history, but we must forgive ignorance and misunderstanding of the past and face the present with compassion, love and tolerance."
Through joint efforts, Chen said that he believes human rights will be further respected and protected in Taiwan and expressed his hope that no tragedies like the 2-28 Incident will ever happen again.